King Peter I

Learn about Peter I the king of Cyprus and how his passion for women led him to death

King Peter I (October 9, 1328 - January 17, 1369) was the king of Cyprus for a decade, from 1359 until his death in 1369, died at age 40. Peter I was one of the most competent kings, he had military and political abilities. His big passion for women was
the reason he was murdered in 1369.

King Peter's wife, Queen Eleonora used to have erotic relations with a partner of her husband. Peter I was very obsessed with Eleonora. Whenever he would leave Cyprus, he would to take with him a shirt of hers to sleep with it.

King Peter I, was a good king but he was a bad husband, despite the obsession he had with his wife he was unfaithful to her, he had lovers. One of his lovers was Arodafnousa, whom he fell in love with madly, and this is one of the most famous erotic stories that inspired poets. Arodafnousa was a beautiful Cypriot from Pafos.

Eleonora knowing of her husband's infidelities, she decided to get revenge of him in the same way. So Eleonora, went on a trip to Europe, she gave her love to John de Morphou, one of the most brave soldiers who wanted her for a long time. Their erotic adventure stayed hidden.

King Peter I asked his loyal collaborators to find out if his wife is cheating on him and with whom.  They would stay awake to search. One of them was John Viscount, he found out of Eleonora's infidelity and he sent a letter to the king, referring to what was happening.

John de Morphou was panicked and bribed two of the king's lovers, Ehvie de Scandelion and Ioanna Alleman, to say that this illegal relationship is not valid and they are just rumors and slanders and they did so. The king had begun interrogations throughout the palace, and even though his lovers said it was not true, he kept going up to the High Gate. The scandal was eventually buried because of interest in order not to ruin their relations with Spain, and so Eleonora remained without punishment. The king wanted to punish John de Morphou no matter what, with the worst punishment, death. But this was also denied by the High Gate, since if it was accepted the scandal would become known and the palace's price would be gone forever and so they had denied it all.

The letter sent by the trustworthy of the King, John of Wisconsin was blamed for slander, and Peter I ordered him to be arrested and imprisoned in the Lion's fort in Boufendo and he died of hunger.
The King, knowing how his trusteworthy partner was telling the truth and being punished unfairly could not calm down, so he decided to get revenge of all those who betrayed him. Peter decided to destroy them socially and make erotic relationships with their wives. But what the king did blurred of the injustice cost him his life. The nobles conspired against him and vowed to take Peter I out of the middle.
On Wednesday, January 16, 1369, Philip of Ibelen, the Lord of Arsov, Henry of Gibbels, and John de Gorel entered the king's bedroom, where he was with one lover and they slaughtered him. Jacob de Norres enters the room last, he cuts off the testicles and the organ of the king, saying, "For this you have given death," punishing him once and for all of his infidelities and dishonors, and so this is how his passion for women led him to death.

Eleonora has avenged the nobles who killed her husband.
This is a story that became a poem and inspired George Seferis and wrote the poem "The Demon of Prostitution".  Seferis wrote the poem in a period of intense social, economic and political crisis, and through this he tries to show the arrogance of corruption and other negatives that people have and are timeless.